<a title="Ford" href="http://www.ford.com" target="_blank">Ford</a> has been making some pretty great cars lately, and the company's new line of hybrids is no exception. Following our recent <a title="Inhabitat: C-MAX Energi test drive, Laura K. Cowan" href="http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-over-the-river-and-through-the-woods-with-the-ford-cmax-energi-plug-in-hybrid/" target="_blank">C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid test</a>, we borrowed a Ford Fusion Hybrid (non-plugin) for a week-long real-world test of Ford's mileage claims, particularly in the wake of a little <a title="Inhabitat: C-MAX Energi and Fusion Hybrids Not Living Up To Fuel Economy" href="http://inhabitat.com/ford-hybrids-c-max-and-fusion-fail-to-meet-fuel-economy-standards/" target="_blank">controversy over at <em>Consumer Reports</em></a>, which found that the C-MAX Energi and Fusion hybrids were not living up to promised fuel economy of 47 mpg. Read on and check out our gallery of detail shots to get the full scoop on how this new entry to the green market stacks up.

1

Ford Fusion Hybrid Side

We drove our Fusion Hybrid around a local small town just chock full of quaint churches. The Fusion has this strange ability to blend into any environment. Here it looks Sunday ready, but on the highway it's sleek and professional, while in the country it's ready for anything.

2

Ford Fusion Hybrid Instrument Cluster

We like the way Ford has set up the fuel economy tracker in real time on the left of the instrument cluster, though it was a bit confusing how any time the car was in EV mode, it would automatically enter 60 mpg to this meter, not an uncommon occurrence in hybrid cars.

3

Ford Fusion Hybrid Front Quarter

Ford has taken many styling cues from the last generation of Aston Martins to be built before the companies parted ways, which explains the sexy new grilles on all Ford sedans.

4

Ford Fusion Hybrid Front

Love it from this angle too.

5

Ford Fusion Hybrid Headlight

The headlights are nice and squinting, not all goggle-eyed like so many city cars.

6

Ford Fusion Hybrid Grille

A closeup reveals some dynamic shapes in the grille.

7

Ford Fusion Hybrid Foglight

Foglights add to the sporty look.

8

Ford Fusion Hybrid Mirror

We have been surprised at how quiet the ride is in the new line of Ford hybrids. Standard mirrors usually give too much wind noise on green cars, but here, you don't hear a thing.

9

Ford Fusion Hybrid Front Row

Inside, a comfy interior and all the trappings of a mid-level sedan.

10

Ford Fusion Hybrid Driver Door

Power everything.

11

Ford Fusion Hybrid Driver Door Controls 1

Power stuff there.

12

Ford Fusion Hybrid Driver Door Controls 2

More power stuff there.

13

Ford Fusion Hybrid Cockpit

The only complaint we have in the cockpit of the Fusion is the feeling that we were sitting too low despite working with the seat adjustment to find a good fit. Like driving a Dodge sedan--all bathtub on wheels feeling.

14

Ford Fusion Hybrid Steering Wheel

Leather wrapped steering wheel with more power everything.

15

Ford Fusion Hybrid Center Stack

The HVAC system takes a little getting used to, but once you know where the touch buttons are it's a cinch.

16

Ford Fusion Hybrid Center Console

The Fusion has a hill mode, though we noticed no difference in performance. Nice to know it's there since most hybrids like this have slippery tires, though.

17

Ford Fusion Hybrid HVAC

The touch buttons.

18

Ford Fusion Hybrid Nav Screen 1

The navigation system and infotainment worked as promised, except for one really really annoying glitch....

19

Ford Fusion Hybrid Electric Drive

The electric drive screen is fine....

20

Ford Fusion Hybrid Radio

... but oh my sweet Lord the radio will drive you nuts if you scan for channels. On satellite, FM, any band, the scan function is a full minute behind your press of a button. We found ourselves scanning, stopping, going back, only to have the buttons completely unresponsive for possibly 20-30 seconds, then retracing all our commands once we had moved on to trying other things. Gah!

21

Ford Fusion Hybrid Nav Screen Settings

Everything else works well and quickly, thank the baby Jesus. Just get your radio presets in and forget the scan.

22

Ford Fusion Hybrid SYNC

SYNC, if you're a Microsoft kind of people.

23

Ford Fusion Hybrid Taillight

Lovely LED wrapped taillights on the Fusion. Just adds to the sleek looks.

24

Ford Fusion Hybrid Trunk

And, because it's a regular hybrid and not a plug-in, your cargo is never gobbled up by a battery case.

25

Ford Fusion Hybrid Cargo

Well, it's not body-stashing huge, but it's more than adequate for a family sedan.

26

Ford Fusion Hybrid Badge

The badges are subtle on this car, so it's an understated man's hybrid.

27

Ford Fusion Hybrid Rear

Okay, it's not all that sexy from this angle, but it could be worse.

28

Ford Fusion Hybrid Rear Quarter

We keep going over this design and wishing they had kept the long lines just a little longer at the back pillar there, where it reveals itself to be not so upmarket. Ah well. It's a lot of car for the money. Who knows why sexy rear quarters cost so much more.

29

Ford Fusion Hybrid Church

And finally, our entirely inappropriate to landscape photos backdrop for the photo shoot.

30

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Ford Fusion Hybrid Lead

Ford has been making some pretty great cars lately, and the company's new line of hybrids is no exception. Following our recent C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid test, we borrowed a Ford Fusion Hybrid (non-plugin) for a week-long real-world test of Ford's mileage claims, particularly in the wake of a little controversy over at Consumer Reports, which found that the C-MAX Energi and Fusion hybrids were not living up to promised fuel economy of 47 mpg. Read on and check out our gallery of detail shots to get the full scoop on how this new entry to the green market stacks up.